“Academically, he did incredibly detailed work into cerebral palsy,” said Dr Lawson, who first met Dr Richmond in 1979 and had worked with him at the Royal since 1991.

“He had all of the qualities which we admire. His genial affability must have been a joy to all of those who worked with him.

“He was totally devoted to the job and neonatal care.”

During holidays, Dr Richmond would often travel to Palestine and Bangladesh to help teach newborn life support and advanced neonatal care.

He also created and established a Neonatal Life Support course for junior doctors in the North East to learn the essential skills of resuscitation before they began work.

Dr Richmond was then involved in the production of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation guidelines, and his growing reputation in his field of work meant his advice was often sought on national neonatal issues.

Following retirement, Dr Richmond married his partner Liz in January this year. But he died in early March, leaving staff, patients and their families mourning his death. “I couldn’t do what Sam did,” added Dr Lawson. “I couldn’t have shared my time as well as he did because he just devoted himself to kids that were in his care. He was a marvellous man.”

Dr Richmond is survived by Liz and his three sisters, Sophie, Emma and Sally.